Chapter 1
Job exam
After discussing with Aikawa she recommended me to take a job as being consultant after all not only do I have a chance at getting a case involving the website but It'll also help me take my mind off of my addiction to the website
Later that day I took her advice and decided to go to the local police center from their I signed a couple of papers and I was on a waiting list for my exam
In that exam we did shooting drills as well as handcuffing drills we ofcourse also answered some simple questions
2 days later...
Chapter 2
An escala-tion of problems
2 days have gone by and I was currently out on the mall with Aikawa
"I-I mean how can I fail an exam so badly that they didn't even let me finish the exam itself?" I asked her
"Well listen you probably did really good to the point where they decided to let you leave early"
"That doesn't happen Aikawa! I don't just get the permission to leave early because I did well"
"And how could you know?"
"Aikawa, I didn't hit the target during the shooting drill, as a matter of fact I kept on getting scared by the sudden recoil"
"So what? That's only one part of the exam it isn't like that little bit can disqualify you, or mabye they can I haven't tried joining the police force"
"Well it is something I can learn along the way"
"Exactly, that's the spirit" she lightly patted me in the back
"Well it also doesn't help that during the handcuffing drills I kept on panicking, Aikawa I had someone telling me to hurry up, I don't work well under pressure!"
"Well-"
"It also doesn't help that the so called 'criminal' that I was handcuffing ended up dropping me to the floor"
"Can he even do something like that?"
"He didn't mean to, he was just putting his play on refusing to get handcuffed..." I waited a bit before saying what I was about to say, bracing myself for the laughter that was about to come "I lost my footing and fell, ultimately the criminal escaped and I failed"
"Listen how about we just focus on the shopping maybe it'll help keep you're mind off this whole exam"
"Yeah" I agreed
We did are shopping and Aikawa decided she still wanted to continue, as we made are way to the escalators in order to advance to the second floor
"Oh my god!" I was completely shaken
"Is something the matter?"
"What do you mean?! Are you blind! Look infront of you!"
"I don't get it, all I see is some escalators"
"That's the problem!"
"..." Aikawa decided to stay quite as she hit me with one of those annoyed looks
"I-I'm scared of escalators"
"Jeez, just hurry up it isn't that bad"
"You don't get it me and Lia watched a video where someone caught their legs at the end of the escalator and got shredded"
"Lia?"
"Ah-"
"No need to hide it, I've known for a while now"
"I see, how about we just take the elevator" If I wasn't in public then I'd be for sure on my knees right now begging to take the elevator
"How about we hold hands?" Aikawa sticks her hand out waiting for me to reach out
"Yeah how about no?" I decided to push her hand back to her side
"Oh come on the elevator isn't even in this section it's all the way on the other side" Aikawa pouted something that I found kinda cute
"Then we better get walking"
"Ugh fine"
We walked a couple of steps before are walk was interrupted by a certain group of people screaming
"Oh no" I couldn't help but get a bad feeling as they were looking over at the elevator
"Seems like you have a chance to redeem yourself" Aikawa seemed to have also picked up on what happened
We made are way toward the scene where a certain old lady was at the bottom of the escalator she had a cane with her as well as a bruise on her top right hand side of her forehead
"Seems like she lost her footing" I could hear people whispering about what they believed had happened its a logical assumption after all she did need a cane to help her out
"Hey Malliyo look at the cane" Aikawa started calling me by my first name, I'm not sure when this development occurred but it just suddenly happened
I took a look at the cane it had a snapped completely, after feeling the cane it wasn't you're normal piece of wood it was actually really hard and It'll be impossible for the thing to just snap all of the sudden
"This wasn't an accident" I told her
"Exactly someone decided to strike this old lady"
I noticed how the lady didn't seem to have any sort of payment not a purse not cash and no credit card, this seemed to have been a robbery
"She has no purse as well it seems like they were aiming for her money" I told Aikawa
"It seems so"
"I think we should go" I grabbed a hold of Aikawa's arm before we began to make are way to the exit
"What are you doing?!" She snapped as she took her arm away from mine "Now is you're time to show the police what their missing out"
"Yeah I would do that but did you by any chance forget where the lady was killed?!"
"So what? Now is a perfect time to get over this stupid fear"
"Excuse me! Don't you ever call this fear of escalators a 'stupid fear' got it?!"
"Yeah yeah you were doing so well so hurry up let's tell the police what we know"
"Yeah how about you do that and I'll stay here where there is no escalators in sight"
"No can do, you're coming with me" Aikawa grabbed my hand as we made are way toward the police
"No! Aikawa I can't do this!" I began making a fuss as we got closer and closer to the scene
"Oh stop being such a baby!" I can tell by her voice that Aikawa was somewhat annoyed
"Aikawa I can't be anywhere near that escalator especially after it killed someone!"
"What are you even saying?! You and I both know that this wasn't no accident and that someone deliberately knocked her down"
"Yeah well still I'll like to believe this is a cased closed and that the elevator is the culprit it'll give me the perfect opportunity to start a riot"
"I think you're losing you're mind"
"Yeah well how about we both start a riot and get rid of these escalators that way I won't lose my mind"
"Come on" Aikawa tightened her grip on me as she began talking to the police officer about the thing we discovered
We were both taken to the police center where we began to explain the situation in more depth luckily for me there was no escalators in site
"I see well how would you mind if we hire you both?" The chief of the police center also known as Hana Tanaka
"Really?!" We both were overjoyed to think that such opportunities will easily be right infront of us
"Well yeah, we've been having quite a struggle when it came to solving cases so anything will help"
"It's a deal!" Aikawa overjoyed decided that we'd both take the job, suddenly though I remembered why I couldn't take this case
"Aikawa I can't" I whispered to her
"Yes you can" she whispered back
"No I can't"
"Yes you can"
"No I can't"
"Is something the matter?" Tanaka decided to speak up
"Ah nothing ma'am" The lady was scary we both couldn't help but disregard the fact that we had a problem
"Ma'am? I'm on my early 30's so please refrain from using ma'am when addressing me"
We both agreed before making are way back to the crime scene everyone was set on the camera footage in which we decided to join up two police officers or should I say detectives
"Hello, our names are Asami Aikawa and this is Malliyo"
"Just Malliyo?" The detective that spoke up was male his name tag said his name to be Kai
"Ah yes, he doesn't really like to be called be his last name"
"Aikawa that isn't true" I whispered to her
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
"Just trust me"
"My names Kai and this is my partner Miyu"
I took a look at the camera footage It seemed to be paused before the old lady fell, even so the cane was already snapped yet nobody seemed to be around, there was also a puddle of water it didn't have any hazard signs that you'd normally see
"What is this?" I pointed toward the camera
"Well we get that you're currently consulting but we'd rather if you leave this stuff to us if you don't mind" Kai was the one to speak up
"Well I guess that's it-" before I could leave Aikawa decided to speak up
"You see I don't really want to start on the wrong foot here but you seem to be struggling as an agency you're chief decided to hire us base on that fact, so I'll like to share information about this case like a team" Aikawa's strong words seemed to have strucked a cord as Kai decided to fill us in with what they this is going on
"You see the cane seem to have snapped by its own, we also acknowledge the fact that her purse and everything was taken yet the camera shows that she didn't have a purse to begin with"
No purse? Why would someone even come to a mall without any form of payment? Somethings off and I can tell that Aikawa feels the same on this matter
"Well if you wouldn't mind we will be heading back to the station" Kai decides to make his way out to where Miyu decided to give us a proper goodbye
Chapter 3
The Routine of a detective
It was 6 am to where I decided to get up and get ready for work after I got dressed I decided to stop by a coffee shop I bought two coffees one for me and the other for my partner. This is a routine I, Miyu Suzuki usually take
I got to the police station where I meet up with my partner Kai his personality at first would be one of a self centered man that didn't care about others but once you get close you'd understand everything about him
We started are day by filling out paper work, as due to our current reputation me and Kai haven't been getting the best cases out there, we've actually been getting good ol' paper work to fill out
After we finish we usually just walk around pretending like we're actually doing something productive though this time our routine changed as the chief called us in
"Chief" Tanaka was the only person that Kai showed proper gesture towards
"Well here's the thing I got a call about an old lady having an accident with the escalators"
Kai didn't seem so happy that our first case in over a month could possibly be just an old lady loosing her footing
"That's it?" Kai as expected wasn't pleased
"Sorry? This is coming from the same person that hasn't had a proper case in over a month, how about you shut up and get going to the scene!"
Before getting more into Tanaka's bad side we decided to take this opportunity and make our way over to the scene
Once we got there we can see what seemed to have been two couples arguing I was able to somewhat over hear their conversation
"Listen I can't do escalators!" The man said
"Listen now is you're chance all we're going to do is tell them what we learned"
I couldn't hear the rest as we got further and further away.
We got to the scene the old lady had a bruise on her forhead her cane was also snapped, she didn't have a purse on her it's possible that this could be a robbery gone wrong?
We then made our way towards the security camera after getting shown the tape It'll seem like the robbery theory would be wrong as she didn't seem to have a purse on her.
We got a call from the chief she told us how she had hired a couple of consultants to help us out on the case supposedly they seemed to have the same theory as us, ofcourse Kai wasn't to happy about someone working along side us
Just as we were wrapping up the consultant's approached us, to my surprise it was the same couple from the entrance
"Hello, our names are Asami Aikawa and this is Malliyo"
"Just Malliyo?" Kai said
"Ah yes, he doesn't really like to be called be his last name"
I couldn't hear what they were saying but it seemed like they were both whispering at eachother, Kai was rather annoyed as he wasn't a big fan of whispering
"My names Kai and this is my partner Miyu"
"What is this?" Malliyo pointed toward what the camera has recorded
"Well we get that you're currently consulting but we'd rather if you leave this stuff to us if you don't mind" Kai was the one to speak up
"Well I guess that's it-" Malliyo tried to make his way out of the room yet decided to stop as Aikawa began to talk
"You see I don't really want to start on the wrong foot here but you seem to be struggling as an agency you're chief decided to hire us base on that fact, so I'll like to share information about this case like a team" Aikawa's strong words seemed to have an affect on Kai kinda like the same way cheif's words had an affect on Kai, as he began to speak up on what the camera was showing
"You see the cane seem to have snapped by its own, we also acknowledge the fact that her purse and everything was taken yet the camera shows that she didn't have a purse to begin with"
After he explained all that he decided to make his way out I tried my best to show some kindness while going out as a way to cover for Kai's rudeness
We made our way back during this we had forensics work on the cane to see if they can find something we couldn't
After that we had our break in which I proposed that we should go and have lunch to which Kai disagreed and decided not to join along
On my way toward the restaurant I could see one of the consultants that we meet, her name was Aikawa if I remembered correctly though she didn't seem to have Malliyo along side her, with this opportunity I decided to invite her for lunch in which she agreed
"Will you look at that, who would've thought that we'd be here together having lunch" Aikawa said
"Right, I'm really sorry for my partners actions I promise you that he didn't mean to just cut you off the case"
"Well you seem to be quite the kind soul, I do wonder how you two ended up partnered up"
"Ah its a long story"
"I like long stories"
"I see, well Kai and I used to know eachother since kids let's say it was our dream to be detectives"
"I assume Kai wasn't always like he was right? I'll like to say that this job transformed him am I right?"
"Yes one case got a bit personal and at the end one of his family members ended up in prison to what he assumes what a wrongful accuse"
"I see well I think I have a good read on you're little partnership so I'll get going" Aikawa left her share of the cash on her table before she flashed a quick grin
I looked at the table then back at the door I could see a note underneath all the cash, the note had Aikawa's phone number
After she left I got a call from the chief nothing concrete was able to show on the cane it'll seem like it just snapped, and just like that our first case in ages ended up closed
"What a day today has been" I sighed
Chapter 4
Observation is key
The next day came around or as I, Malliyo Mount will like to say the second day of being recruited as consultant
Today's agenda was to take a closer look at the cameras and see if something was up as even though the case is said to be closed I refuse to admit that fact, something is up with the ways things turned up I just have to figure out what it is
I left some roses infront of Lia's house before making my way toward the mall
"Look who took their time" Aikawa was standing infront of the camera's
"They just let you walk in here even though the case is closed?"
"Let's say that for today our names are Mike and Lisa we transfered from America"
"I-I see well then let's take a look at this"
Aikawa pressed play on the tape in which we could see the sudden break on her can little wood chips came out and that's when I found the first clue
"Pause! Pause the video!"
"Okay okay"
"Look at the wood chips, what are the odds that they flew toward the left rather than the right?"
"I see even if it snapped the chances that all the chips fell toward the left is quite rare"
"Exactly! That means someone kicked the cane making all of the chips fly to the left"
We continued watching the tape in total we watched it three times and during our fourth I noticed something
"Hey look! This part of the video seems to be somewhat out of sync" To explain better the tape had a somewhat staticky effect it was also completely gray a rather old security camera the static was all in sync till the part that the cane got kicked right there a part of the tape lost its sync when it came to the static the out of sync part represented what would seem like a human body
"The tape was tampered with!" Aikawa Also seemed to have noticed what I mentioned
"Indeed it seems to me like we have someone on the inside working on this murder, they also really need to get better security cameras this whole static thing is giving me a headache"
"Well this place is known for its ancient history so I'm guessing that their keeping the tradition going"
"That is probably the stupidest thing I've ever heard, also if that was true then we wouldn't be seeing that monster of a creation"
"Yeah how about we dont call an escalator a monster, also we should get going"
"Yeah I want to get out of this place as soon as possible"
"Oh come on don't tell me you've now developed a fear for malls?"
"Maybe"
"Let's just go already, I'll tell you my plan back at the roof"
We usually hang out at the roof even after school at first I didn't like the whole idea of sharing this spot with another girl that isn't Lia but slowly I began opening up to her and allowed her to stay
"Here's the plan-" She brought out a layout map of the mall
"What's with the map?" I asked
"Nothing I just thought it'll be a nice addition"
"Okay, how about you begin explaining"
"Right on it, putting the map to the side we both as Max and Lisa will be getting close to the co-workers and-"
"Let me interrupt you here and say that I will not be going inside that mall and especially won't be working inside one"
"Oh come on! Just this once we need to learn their hobbies and see which ones are capable of fabricating a video tape"
"Yeah sure let's see who's capable of fabricating a video tape that was around during the dinosaurs, even my baby sister can fabricate that thing"
"You have a sister?"
"No, but that's not the point"
"Just follow my plan if it doesn't work then we can try it you're way"
"Deal"
"Okay shall we get going?"
"Alright let's get this over with"
Chapter 5
It's impossible to blend in... or is it?
"I can't believe I'm doing this" I muttered to myself
"Sorry did you say anything?"
"Ah- no I'm sorry, I-I was just telling myself how awesome this job is" The person I was talking to was a worker at this place due to Aikawa's crazy plan I now have to be friend this idiot
"Hey look at that!" The man pointed at the floor where a slightly opened lollipop was at, he then proceeded to grab it and put it in his mouth
"Ew-"
"Sorry?"
"Nothing let's get going shall we?"
"Ofcourse we have to check up the other levels too so we better get going"
"U-up?"
"Yes?, is that a problem?"
"Not at all" I threw what even I know was probably the worst smile known to man
"Okay then let's go upwards!"
"Ofcourse, but before we do that by any chance would you know what happen to that poor old lady?"
"Oh yes the one that died, I would be sad for her but that annoying bitch kept on trying to sue us, every little mistake and she would file a report"
"I-I see, does she by any chance has someone that works here?"
"Uhm yes as a matter of a fact she's you're grandmother"
"What?!"
"Come on man! Not cool, how can you forget about you're own grandmother"
"Right I-I haven't been thinking straight lately yknow been hitting up the pubs recently"
"Really? You don't even look like you're in you're 20's"
"Ah, that's because I'm not... well you see recently I've been a bad boy yknow, so I really need you to keep this a secret"
"I gotcha bro you're secret is safe with me" The man then proceeded to do the thing where you lock you're lips and throw the key away
"Anyway I have to get going"
"No can do bro, you have to atleast come here and check out the second floor with me man"
"I-I, well you see I really can't"
"Nah bro what do you mean? The escalator is right here might as well go right?"
"W-Well you see I actually have a serious cramp right now"
"Damn bro how can such a young blood like you get a bad cramp"
"I'm not sure man, but it's really bad"
"Fine I'll go check the upstairs by myself"
"I'm really sorry man I would've loved to help you"
"It's fine bro, you got me next time right?"
"R-right"
Once he left sight I decided to call Aikawa
"Yes?" She answered rather quickly for someone who's supposed to be busy talking to someone
"I think I know who our murderer is"
"Really?"
"Yes meet me outside of the mall I-I'll tell you there"
"You got it"
We ended the call, after a couple of minutes Aikawa showed up after her the two detectives also came
"Okay I have reason to believe that the killer is Me" I then point to my name tag also known as Mike's name tag
"Yeah I don't have time for this stupid shit" unsurprisingly enough it was Kai who said that, he seemed to have been pretty upset with that joke as he began making his way into the car
"Too soon?" I whispered to Aikawa
"Yeah, too soon"
"Okay listen up everyone!, Mike was a worker here and the old lady who died happen to be Mike's grandmother"
"You're point?" Kai said
"Here's the full story, Mike was a worker in this mall he was antisocial due to the fact that the man I talked to seemed to be the type to talk with just about anyone yet he didn't question my appearance when I said I was Mike as a matter of a fact nobody questioned my appearance" I stopped for a bit before continuing
"Then his grandmother came into play, she was old and probably had back problems the grandma was someone who needed money due to her constant filing of reports it was only a matter of time before she brought in safety hazards into the play"
"That explains why she didn't have a purse!" Kai decided to step out his car and get closer, I could see a smile even though he was trying his best to hide it
"Exactly she was about to pull the biggest stunt yet and she needed some help, that's where Mike comes in, someone who works as a security guard someone who has easy access to fabricate the camera footage. And he did just that nobody was around not a single soul in sight, all of the sudden the cane of that old lady fell all of the chips falling toward the left would indicate someone kicked it, I also noticed a puddle of water with no hazard sign"
"They planted it!" Kai said
"Correct, we don't know how the water got there because the tape never showed us, but why do that? If someone spilled it then why cut off that part of the footage? Maybe because it wasn't no accident they didn't place no hazard sign that way when the grandmother had her accident they would get payed it was just too bad that the grandmother ended up dead I can't tell you whether their plan was for her to fall down the escalatorbor not, but what I can say for certain is that we need to find Mike-"
"Before he takes the money!" Without letting me finish Kai decides to take Miyu by her hand as they make their way to what I assume would be Mike's house
"They got it wrong right?" Aikawa asked me
"Yes, Mike is a kind soul he wouldn't take the money I do believe though that he would leave this place for good, but before he does that he has to give his dead grandmother one last goodbye"
"Yes and since they haven't buried her yet-"
"Correct! Mike will come visit here most probably at night"
"Then we should stay the night!"
"Yeah absolutely not"
"How come?, don't you want to catch the bad guy?"
"I do, but on one condition"
"And what might that be?"
"I will not be staying inside of this torture facility"
"Ugh! Stop being such a cry baby and come on!" And just like that we stayed the night...
Chapter 6
A time that I wish to forget
Currently inside a closed mall in the middle of the night with someone that I'd consider a close friend, this is all for the sake of justice as I, Asami Aikawa and Mayillo Polis will ultimately be the ones to capture this murderer
"I think I'm gonna throw up" Malliyo whispered to me
"Hold it in, he'll be here any second"
"I'm just going to go to the restroom real quick"
"I can't let you leave, he could be inside"
"Well then I'll take that risk rather than throwing up infront of so many people"
"What?! I'm the only one here!"
"No look at them" I followed Malliyo's finger just to lead me to a mannequin stand
"Oh come on! Those aren't even real people!"
"I'm sorry Aikawa I can't hold it in"
Malliyo began making a run toward the bathrooms, I ended up following him to the door
"Hurry up!"
"Oh God it won't stop!"
"Oh my God! Don't tell me that stuff!"
"Aikawa I think I might lose 30 pounds"
"What?! You're disgusting!"
"I-Is that blood!"
"For crying out loud it isn't blood it's probably something you digested"
"It's probably the spicy chicken, oh I forgot I can't do spicy stuff"
"..."
I couldn't be bothered with him, some moments he's the smartest man I know and others he's just a complete moron
"Hello beautiful"
"?!"
A sudden arm reached out to me grabbing me from the back of my hair and pushing me into their body
"What a surprise! I didn't know such a beautiful lady would be here"
"Let go!"
"Oh I can't do that, you're my little ticket"
"For what?"
"The money, you're life for the money that I and my grandmother were aiming for"
Oh no Malliyo got it wrong, he's not only going to leave, but he's also planning to escape with the money of the accident.
Mike began making his way up to the second floor, ofcourse I was right beside him with no other choice
"Oh great" I muttered to myself
"Did you say something?"
"No"
A couple minutes pass as we happen to be parked right next to the escalators I was supposed to be his watch out in the case someone tries to come up here, only problem is if he catches me being suspicious just by the slightest bit he'll shoot me
"Listen detectives, I want you to give me the money and I'll give you this precious little girl, got it!"
He was negotiating with who I'd assume are Miyu and Kai...
I happen to notices a door closed, Malliyo ended up seeing me, judging by his eyes I could tell he was telling me something
"What are you doing up there?!"
"It's Mike!"
"For the love of god tell him to come down!"
"Malliyo you're going to have to be the one to come up here!"
"I-I can't do that and you know it!"
"Believe in yourself, I need you to believe"
"Why me? Why couldn't I be the one taken in as a hostage!"
"Malliyo you do know I had to get up here through the escalators right?"
"Oh my god! You're right! I've never been so happy!"
"For God's sake Malliyo get up here"
We seemed to have understood ourselves perfectly, we didn't need to talk our eyes were enough to understand one and other
I could see Malliyo constantly pacing as he prepares himself, I could also see him pull out his phone quickly just to put it back in his pocket
"Okay I'm ready"
"You got it!"
We told eachother through our eyes yet again as Malliyo takes his most dramatic and most important steps for not only his life, but also mine
"Oh god!" This time it didn't come from our eye contact, instead it was Malliyo making a fuss after getting on the escalator
"Who is that!"
"Well you see sir I'm not so sure, I mean look at him youreself"
It's time to play the sympathy card! I'll make him feel bad after looking at this poor man suffer from getting on a escalator
"Oh my legs! Aikawa I can't feel my legs!"
"What is wrong with this man?!" Mike seemed to be rather disturbed something I was not expecting
"Somebody help! I can't move! My legs they're going numb!"
"Let me get my gun this man is just making a ruckus"
"Malliyo its fine you're already in the second floor" Malliyo was right infront of me laying down crying like a baby
"Oh Aikawa, I-I missed you so m-much, to think that Mike actually killed you"
"Malliyo we aren't in heaven neither of us are dead!, you need to get out of here"
"Aikawa! Heaven is terrible! Even after we die I still can't move my legs and why are you still taped around a chair!"
"This isn't heaven! Just stand up and run he's going to kill you!"
Just as I say that it seemed to be a bit too late as Mike began making his way over as he pulls out his gun
"Well any last words?"
"Oh God why is Mike here in heaven with us?"
"What is he even on about?"
"Aikawa, by any chance did the police happen to kill Mike after they realize that I took the bullets out of his gun?"
"Malliyo now isn't the time"
"I had it on my left pocket I wonder if it's still here" Malliyo patted his left pocket in which metal sounds came from it
"You bastard!" Mike checked his gun to our surprise he still had the bullets
"Bluffing on you're final words huh"
"Put the gun down!" Just then sudden footsteps came rushing in from behind us it turned out it was Miyu and Kai
"Damn!"
"You have the right to remain silient! Anything you say can and will be used against you!"
"What did he have on his pocket?" I muttered to myself
Once Miyu got rid of the tape around me, I decided to check it our for myself as Malliyo seemed to be unconscious
"Must have been a tough night for him huh?"
In his pocket were some metal locks from the bathroom a total of 4 of them
"Well isn't that interesting, you don't seem to have control of you're body but you do seem to understand it quite well"
Chapter 7
A nightmare of a scary monster
3 years ago...
"Hey Malliyo how do you feel about horror videos?"
"You know I can't do horror Lia"
"Oh come on you're 14 now surely you can handle this!"
Lia shoved a phone up my face it's a 20 second video about a man going on a escalator
"Fine, but I swear if this ends up developing me a fear I won't forgive you"
"It won't, trust me"
"Lia you know how I develop fears easily"
"If you develop a fear of escalators I promise I'll never take you to one"
"Let's watch it"